Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

The HfP chat thread – Monday 16th November

Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. A list of partners is here.

We have decided to run this daily chat thread on Head for Points during the coronavirus outbreak.

Historically, the daily ‘Bits’ articles were the de facto repository for random comments and questions.  With the news flow being lighter, we are running fewer ‘Bits’ articles.

The comments under this article are where you should post questions about travel and, indeed, anything else on your mind.  At this tricky time, and given that many of you are at home, we want the HfP community to have a place to chat.

HFP-Wordmark-Black

Please only comment under the main articles on the site if your comment is directly related to the topic of the article.  This has long-term benefits as it keeps the commentary relevant for people who read those articles in the future.

By default, HfP shows the last page of comments under the article.  If you want to see the first page of comments and read them all from beginning to end in order, click here: https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2020/11/16/the-hfp-chat-thread-monday-16th-november/comment-page-1.  The page will refresh with this article but the comments will now show the first page and not the last page.

Old chat threads are hidden from the HfP home page.  If you want to look for something in an old thread, click here.  This brings up all the articles in our ‘General’ category which includes the chat threads.

Category

General

Comments (249)

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

  • 747_Brat says:
    16 Nov16 November 14:47

    Just received a mailer from Aer Lingus.

    They are offering Double Tier Credits on the new routes they have launched: Belfast City Airport from Edinburgh, Manchester, Leeds, Exeter, Birmingham & East Midland.

    I am London based, so there’s little benefit for me. But just thought of posting here, as it might benefit some of you who are based in NI.

  • Gormlesstraveller says:
    16 Nov16 November 14:50

    I have neither the Morrisons offer on Virgin, nor the Amex 10%. I guess I could complain on Twitter to Dave Potts but is there any alternative way of getting reduced Amazon gift cards at the moment?

    • Andrew says:
      16 Nov16 November 16:03

      10% back at Morrison’s – Perks at Work (targetted)
      10% back at Morrison’s – Airtime (targetted)
      10% back (max £30) at Spar with LBG (BoS/HfX & LLO)
      10% back (max £30) at Coop with LBG (BoS/HfX & LLO)
      3% back at Wilko – Airtime
      5% back at Wilko – Spree
      3% back at Sainsbury’s – Spree

      Lots of routes.

      • Gormlesstraveller says:
        16 Nov16 November 16:18

        Wow thank you. Will research to find out which of these I can get.

      • 747_Brat says:
        16 Nov16 November 17:07

        Andrew, I envy you mate. I don’t have even half the offers you have got!

    • Jonathan says:
      16 Nov16 November 17:21

      Definitely don’t raise it with Morrisons as that will be the end of the GC game.

  • David D says:
    16 Nov16 November 14:51

    An update regarding my late evening query for a changed QF flight number for the same date, at the exact same time in Australia booked with Avios. BA are refunding me in full. Already received the Avios and to expect the card refund in the next 3 to 5 days. I have to say I am really pleased with the service. Also managed to get straight through as well just after 2pm which was great.

    • Lady London says:
      16 Nov16 November 21:08

      Good to hear. That change sounded a bit worrying even though none of could pinpoint why.

  • S says:
    16 Nov16 November 15:05

    What’s the best underlying card on Bendy to pay off the seagulls?

    • Gormlesstraveller says:
      16 Nov16 November 15:07

      Virgin i think

    • mark2 says:
      16 Nov16 November 15:13

      It depends on the cards which you want to earn.

    • Coucou says:
      16 Nov16 November 15:59

      For those we just joined us:

      We are using Bendy (Curve) to pay the Seagulls (American Express). Basically paying a credit card with another credit card. Boom! Manufactured spending complete.

  • DK says:
    16 Nov16 November 15:27

    Upgraded my green card to Platinum a month ago. No bonus tracker appeared so I asked on chat. After investigation they came back with “your account is not eligible for bonus as not specifically targeted”. I referred to T&C with no such condition but answer is still no.
    Any advise?

    • BS says:
      16 Nov16 November 15:35

      Escalate to formal complaint. Then take to FOS. Make sure you add £100 for inconvenience, time and effort. You will win.

    • Andrew says:
      16 Nov16 November 15:37

      Ring and ask to speak to Brighton. Don’t waste your time with chat.

      • DK says:
        16 Nov16 November 15:45

        Chat raised the investigation. I asked on chat for the outcome and that was the resolution against closed case. Chat supervisor came up with “offer was withdrawn” on Oct 16th. Totally laughable as I applied before this and upgrade page is still up. But computer says no

        • TGLoyalty says:
          16 Nov16 November 19:30

          I would still try and phone during the day around 2-4pm ish and see what happens.

    • C says:
      16 Nov16 November 16:59

      This has happened to me once and customer services refused to honour it. I was wondering if it was because I applied to upgrade to the platinum immediately after receiving the green card so in future I will leave it a few weeks after getting the green card.

      • DK says:
        16 Nov16 November 17:02

        I had my green card for almost 6 months before upgrade

        • Sina says:
          16 Nov16 November 22:59

          I jad the same issue but called brighton, they confirmed I am eligible for bonus points after I gave them the upgrade page url and they talked to their marketing dept. No show of the pounts yet, but accepted on the phone that there’s something wrong with their systems?!

  • Mikee says:
    16 Nov16 November 15:35

    Ref transfers between Heathrow and Gatwick, with National Express coaches not operating, any other suggestions on how to get between the two other than a long train journey which I’m trying to avoid as have 2 x luggage?
    I checked 1-way car rental prices but £75 is the cheapest I can find (no Hertz or Europcar £1 deals unfortunately).
    Private hire seems the only option unless there’s any ride-sharing services that I’m not aware of?

    • Gormlesstraveller says:
      16 Nov16 November 16:23

      some people go by local bus changing at Kingston I believe

    • Super Secret Stuff says:
      16 Nov16 November 17:38

      Depends how quickly you want to do it…

      Taxi is quickest but most expensive.
      Direct train to Guildford or Reading and coach is a couple hours and ok price.
      Local buses are (I believe) doable but VERY long and IMHO not really worth it compared to the train.

      • Mikee says:
        16 Nov16 November 20:50

        Thanks for the responses…..looks like it’ll be a taxi as the logistics/time of train/coach is too much after a long flight from the US. My still try calling one of the rental companies directly to see if they need any vehicles transferred across to Gatwick for a decent price. Will report back here if I get any joy.

        • Lady London says:
          16 Nov16 November 21:35

          you could maybe cut costs by taking cab to Shepherd”s Bush or West Brompton. There’s a rail line through those that goes to Clapham Junction and on to Gatwick. IME in normal times at least 3 trains per hour in day going straight through on one train. It’s literally down inthe lift at the station straight onto the platform at Shepherd’s Bush then up in the lift at Gatwick.

          Depends on relative cost of taxi to one of those vs that looong way lhr to lgw. But I am on that train line a lot to LGW with heavy luggages and it’s easy.

          Actually from LHR it’s a short taxi to Feltham Station which would get you to Clapham Junction but with luggage you need to be able to use thr platform lufts at Clapham Junction which off one platform and up onto anothrr ca get seriously piggy with 2 big bits of luggage+ if you’re on your own.

          • John says:
            17 Nov17 November 05:54

            There has never been a direct train from Shepherd’s bush to Gatwick (in the past 20 years at least). The furthest they went was to South Croydon and usually possible to change cross platform at east Croydon for a Gatwick train

    • Paul says:
      17 Nov17 November 12:44

      We used https://www.heathrowtaxi.net/ last Sunday morning.. Was £55 for a standard car (Prius) that took 2 x big suitcases and 2 x handluggage and 2 of us..

      Booked online, paid online, got email confirmation through with details..

      Very happy and would certainly use again.

  • Clive says:
    16 Nov16 November 15:44

    Good price for a PCR Test

    https://www.justtest.me.uk/

    • 747_Brat says:
      16 Nov16 November 15:50

      They will launch their services on 2nd of December. Too bad for me, as I need a test this week! But thanks for sharing.

    • Anna says:
      16 Nov16 November 16:13

      Presumably they are not going to cover the whole country for £49 a pop!

      • Anna says:
        16 Nov16 November 16:22

        Also, with these self-administered tests, who’s to say the person who’s taken the test is the person whose name is on it? It seems like it would be very easy to manipulate the result either way. Getting someone else to take your COVID test might become the new sending someone else to sit your driving theory test (which was a thing and is why they now make you bring photo ID!)

        • 747_Brat says:
          16 Nov16 November 17:06

          Look at what Elon Musk tweeted last week about the whole Covid test thing:

          https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1327125840040169472?s=20

        • Rob says:
          16 Nov16 November 19:46

          Who is to say the ‘lab’ you pay doesn’t just give you a random piece of paper?

          Without a doubt, a large % of people offering covid tests are a fraud. You give someone based in a random office a saliva sample, pay them £150 per person, they say they will immediately courier it to the lab they use and the next day they give you a piece of paper saying you’re fine. What could go wrong?

          • TGLoyalty says:
            16 Nov16 November 19:50

            That’s a real worry expect for most people just want to get into their holiday destination so don’t care as long as the person on the other side believes it.

    • MQ says:
      16 Nov16 November 18:26

      Thank you so much! £49 is a great price…..will use them for my holiday on the 12th of Dec.

    • Alan says:
      16 Nov16 November 18:44

      Clive, thanks for the info.

      Does anyone know if this “qPCR” test is acceptable for travel to Germany.

  • Barry says:
    16 Nov16 November 15:46

    Has anyone had any success in getting the bonus on Platinum, while trying to upgrade from PRG, after speaking to the customer service in Brighton?

    • Sam says:
      16 Nov16 November 17:41

      Yes earlier this year but had to chase, was reassured the offer in on account but the points never posted after meeting £4k spend

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

New to Head for Points?

Welcome!  We’re the UK’s most-read source of business travel, Avios, frequent flyer and hotel loyalty news. Let us improve how you travel. Learn more on our About page.

VAA

Latest comments

Latest Forum Posts

Get 30,000 points bonus with American Express Platinum

Amex Gold

Check reward flight availability instantly for free!

See a whole year of reward seat availability on one page at SeatSpy.com

Booking a luxury hotel?

Our luxury hotel booking service offers you GUARANTEED extra benefits over booking direct. Works with Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz Carlton, St Regis and more. We've booked £1.3 million of rooms to date. Click for details.

Get 20,000 bonus points and your first year free with American Express Gold

Amex Gold